Day care worker previously sentenced to 8 years in prison for 2014 toddler's injury

Former day care site director Tara Miller leaves Hall County Superior Court on Tuesday morning following her guilty plea for obstruction of law enforcement. Miller worked at Discovering Basics, where a toddler was burned on the premises in June 2014.

The owner and site director of a former Clermont day care each pleaded guilty Tuesday morning in connection to a child scalded by one of the teachers.

Minnie Sue Dupree and Tara Miller pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Superior Court Judge Jason Deal sentenced the two women to 12 months of probation.

“This year and a half has been the most difficult period in all of my long life,” Dupree said in a statement through attorney Graham McKinnon. “Anyone who knows me knows I would never condone the mistreatment of any child entrusted in my care, which is why this case has so troubled me for casting a shadow over my reputation and career.”

Charges arose from a June 2014 incident involving then 16-month-old Damon Gaddis, who suffered second- and third-degree burns. Day care worker Eddye Pittmon was convicted of battery and first-degree child cruelty last month and sentenced to eight years in prison for scalding the child with hot water at Discovering Basics day care.

“My client passed an independent polygraph, which she passed and exonerated her as it related to knowing anything about the small child or being involved with the child,” Miller’s attorney Jeff Talley said.

Assistant District Attorney Shiv Sachdeva said the state’s intention was to not prosecute on the charges Dupree and Miller currently faced.